Author:
Pisaturo Mariantonietta,Alessio Loredana,Di Fraia Alessandra,Macera Margherita,Minichini Carmine,Cordua Emanuele,Onorato Lorenzo,Scotto Gaetano,Di Caprio Giovanni,Calò Federica,Sagnelli Caterina,Coppola Nicola
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Since few data are available in the literature on the prevalence of anti-Delta-positive subjects in immigrant populations, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the demographic and virological characteristics of HDV infection in a large cohort of immigrants living in southern Italy.
Methods
Between January 2012 and February 2020 all immigrants attending one of the 5 first- level centers were enrolled and screened for HBsAg, the HBsAg-positive for anti-Delta and if positive, for HDV-RNA and HDV genotype.
Results
Of the 3521 immigrants observed in the study period, 3417 (97.0%) agreed to be screened; they were mainly males (61%), with a median age of 27 years (IQR 8–74) and came prevalently (58%) from sub-Saharan Africa.
Of the 3417 patients enrolled, 319 (9%) subjects were HBsAg-positive, and of those, 8 (2.5%) were anti-Delta-positive. No difference in the demographic and epidemiological characteristics was observed between the anti-Delta-negative vs -positive. Of the 8 anti-Delta-positive subjects, only one was HDV-RNA-positive (viral load: 7050 IU/mL), genotype 1, with clinical signs of cirrhosis.
Conclusions
the present study showed a prevalence of HDV of 2.5% in a large cohort of asymptomatic immigrants, suggesting the need for screening campaigns for viral infections including delta hepatitis in this population.
Funder
Gilead for the study “Evaluation of an innovative model to eliminate HCV infection in a high-risk population of undocumented migrants and low-income refugees”
Bando di Ateneo per progetti competitivi, University of Campania, 2019, for the sudty “Awareness of Sexually-Transmitted Infections among immigrant population in Southern Italy
Università degli Studi della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
Infectious Diseases,Microbiology (medical),General Medicine
Cited by
5 articles.
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